• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제53권5호
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• pp.921-938
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• 2015

Realistic prediction of concrete creep is of crucial importance for durability and long-term serviceability of concrete structures. To date, research about the behaviour of self-compacting concrete (SCC) members, especially concerning the long-term performance, is rather limited. SCC is quite different from conventional concrete (CC) in mixture proportions and applied materials, particularly in the presence of aggregate which is limited. Hence, the realistic prediction of creep strains in SCC is an important requirement for the design process of this type of concrete structures. This study reviews the accuracy of the conventional concrete (CC) creep prediction models proposed by the international codes of practice, including: CEB-FIP (1990), ACI 209R (1997), Eurocode 2 (2001), JSCE (2002), AASHTO (2004), AASHTO (2007), AS 3600 (2009). Also, SCC creep prediction models proposed by Poppe and De Schutter (2005), Larson (2007) and Cordoba (2007) are reviewed. Further, new creep prediction model based on the comprehensive analysis on both of the available models i.e. the CC and the SCC is proposed. The predicted creep strains are compared with the actual measured creep strains in 55 mixtures of SCC and 16 mixtures of CC.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제17권5호
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• pp.629-638
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• 2016

Optimization of the concrete mixture design is a process of search for a mixture for which the sum of the cost of the ingredients is the lowest, yet satisfying the required performance of concrete. In this study, a statistical model was carried out to model a cost effective optimal mix proportioning of high strength self-compacting concrete (HSSCC) using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The effect of five key mixture parameters such as water-binder ratio, cement content, fine aggregate percentage, fly ash content and superplasticizer content on the properties and performance of HSSCC like compressive strength, passing ability, segregation resistance and manufacturing cost were investigated. To demonstrate the responses of model in quadratic manner Central Composite Design (CCD) was chosen. The statistical model showed the adjusted correlation coefficient R2adj values were 92.55%, 93.49%, 92.33%, and 100% for each performance which establish the adequacy of the model. The optimum combination was determined to be $439.4kg/m^3$ cement content, 35.5% W/B ratio, 50.0% fine aggregate, $49.85kg/m^3$ fly ash, and $7.76kg/m^3$ superplasticizer within the interest region using desirability function. Finally, it is concluded that multiobjective optimization method based on desirability function of the proposed response model offers an efficient approach regarding the HSSCC mixture optimization.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.283-290
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• 2017

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the bond strength of self-compacting mortars (SCMS) produced from ground pumice powder (GPP) as a mineral additive. In this scope, six series of mortars including control mix were prepared that consist of 7%, 12%, 17%, 22% and 27% of ground pumice powder by weight of cement. A total of 54 specimens of $40{\times}40{\times}160mm$ were produced and cured at the age of 3, 28 and 90-day for compressive and tensile strength tests and 18 specimens of $150{\times}150{\times}150mm$ mortar were prepared and cured at 28 days for bond strength tests. Flexural tensile strength and compressive strength of $40{\times}40{\times}160mm$ specimens were measured at the curing age of 7, 28 and 90-day. Mini V-funnel flow time and mini slump flow diameter tests were also conducted to obtain rheological properties. As a result of the study, it was observed that the SCMs containing 12% of GPP has the highest bond strength as compared to control and GPP mortars. Compressive strength slightly increased up to 12% of GPP.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.145-152
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• 2008

So far, there has been no study of the concrete to strengthen in the lining of the tunnels, except for the study of the stability of subgrade and the tunnel construction technologies. In the existing concrete work for tunnel lining, lots of problems happen due to the partial compaction and the material segregation after casting concrete. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to improve economic efficiency and secure durability through the improvement of the construction performance and quality of the concrete for the tunnel lining among the civil structures. Therefore, the compactability and strength properties of the High Flowing Self-Compacting Lining Concrete (HSLC) are evaluated to develop the mixing proportion for design construction technology of HSLC that can overcome the inner cavity due to the reduced flowability and unfilled packing, which has been reported as the problem in the existing lining concrete. The result of the evaluation shows that the ternary mix meets the regulations better than the binary mix. Consequently, it has been judged applicable to the cement for tunnel lining.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제5권5호
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• pp.435-448
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• 2008

Self-compacting concrete (SCC), characterized by the high flowability and resistance to segregation, is due to the high amount of paste (including cement and mineral admixtures) in contrast with normal concrete (NC). However, the high amount of paste will limit the volume fractions of coarse aggregate,and reduce the tendency of coarse aggregate to suppress drying shrinkage deformations. For this reason, SCC tends to produce higher values of drying shrinkage than NC for the most part. In order to assess the drying shrinkage of SCC quantitatively for application to offshore caisson foundations, the formulas presented in the literatures (ACI 209 and CEB-FIP) are used to predict the values of drying shrinkage in SCC according to the corresponding mix proportions. Additionally, a finite element (FE) model, which assumes concrete to be a homogeneous and isotropic material and follows the actual size and environmental conditions of the caisson, is utilized to simulate stress distribution situations and deformations in the SCC caisson resulting from the drying shrinkage. The probability of cracking and the behavior of drying shrinkage of the SCC caisson are drawn from the analytic results calculated by the FE model proposed in this paper.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.173-181
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• 2020

Fracture properties of concrete depend on the mix proportions of the ingredients, specimen shape and size, type of testing method used for the evaluation of fracture properties. Aggregates play a key role for changes in the fracture behaviour of concrete as they constitute about 60-75 % of the total volume of the concrete. The present study deals with the effect of size and quantity of coarse aggregate on the fracture behaviour of steel fibre reinforced self compacting concrete (SFRSCC). Lower coarse aggregate and higher fine aggregate content in SCC results in the stronger interfacial transition zone and a weaker stiffness of concrete compared to vibrated concrete. As the fracture properties depend on the aggregates quantity and size particularly in SCC, three nominal sizes (20 mm, 16 mm and 12.5 mm) and three coarse to fine aggregate proportions (50-50, 45-55, 40-60) were chosen as parameters. Wedge Split Test (WST), a stable test method was adopted to arrive the requisite properties. Specimens without and with guide notch were investigated. The results are indicative of increase in fracture energy with increase in coarse aggregate size and quantity. The splitting force was maximum for specimens with 12.5 mm size which is associated with a brittle failure in the pre-ultimate stage followed by a ductile failure due to the presence of steel fibres in the post-peak stage.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• 제1권4호
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• pp.273-288
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• 2013

The main objective of this research was to evaluate the potentials of self-compacting concrete (SCC) mixes to develop bond strength. The investigated mixes incorporated relatively high contents of dolomite powder replacing Portland cement. Either silica fume or fly ash was used along with the dolomite powder in some mixes. Seven mixes were proportioned and cast without vibration in long beams with 10 mm and 16 mm steel dowels fixed vertically along the flowing path. The beams were then broken into discrete test specimens. A push-put configuration was adopted for conducting the bond test. The variation of the ultimate bond strength along the flowing path for the different mixes was evaluated. The steel-concrete bond adequacy was evaluated based on normalized bond strength. The results showed that the bond strength was reduced due to Portland cement replacement with dolomite powder. The addition of either silica fume or fly ash positively hindered further degradation as the dolomite powder content increased. However, all SCC mixes containing up to 30% dolomite powder still yielded bond strengths that were adequate for design purpose. The test results demonstrated inconsistent normalized bond strength in the case of the larger diameter compared to the smaller one.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제25권5호
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• pp.401-409
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• 2020

Artificial neural networks are used as a useful tool in distinct fields of civil engineering these days. In order to control long-term quality of Self-Compacting Semi-Lightweight Concrete (SCSLC), the 90 days compressive strength is considered as a key issue in this paper. In fact, combined artificial neural networks are used to predict the compressive strength of SCSLC at 28 and 90 days. These networks are able to re-establish non-linear and complex relationships straightforwardly. In this study, two types of neural networks, including Radial Basis and Multilayer Perceptron, were used. Four groups of concrete mix designs also were made with two water to cement ratios (W/C) of 0.35 and 0.4, as well as 10% of cement weight was replaced with silica fume in half of the mixes, and different amounts of superplasticizer were used. With the help of rheology test and compressive strength results at 7 and 14 days as inputs, the neural networks were used to estimate the 28 and 90 days compressive strengths of above-mentioned mixes. It was necessary to add the 14 days compressive strength in the input layer to gain acceptable results for 90 days compressive strength. Then proper neural networks were prepared for each mix, following which four existing networks were combined, and the combinatorial neural network model properly predicted the compressive strength of different mix designs.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.215-229
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• 2015

The emerging technology of self compacting concrete, fiber reinforcement together reduces vibration and substitute conventional reinforcement which help in improving the economic efficiency of the construction. The objective of this work is to find the regression model to determine the response surface of mix proportioning Steel Fiber Reinforced Self Compacting Concrete (SFSCC) using statistical investigation. A total of 30 mixtures were designed and analyzed based on Design of Experiment (DOE). The fresh properties of SCC and mechanical properties of concrete were studied using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The results were analyzed by limited proportion of fly ash, fiber, volume combination ratio of two steel fibers with aspect ratio of 50/35: 60/30 and super plasticizer (SP) dosage. The center composite designs (CCD) have selected to produce the response in quadratic equation. The model responses included in the primary stage were flowing ability, filling ability, passing ability and segregation index whereas in harden stage of concrete, compressive strength, split tensile strength and flexural strength at 28 days were tested. In this paper, the regression model and the response surface plots have been discussed, and optimal results were found for all the responses.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.11-14
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• 2009

This paper is interested in the incorporation of crushed sand and desert sand in the composition the self compacting concretes (SCC). Desert dune sand, which has a fine extra granulometry, and the crushed sand, which contains an important content of fines, can constitute interesting components for SCC. Part II consists in studying the behaviour of SCC containing various sands with different origins. These sands, with different sizes, consist of several combinations of rolled sand (RS), crushed sand (CS) and desert sand (DS). The study examines the influence of the granular combination of sands on the characteristics in the fresh and the hardened state of SCC. The results of the experimental tests showed an improvement of the workability of the fresh SCC by combining sands of varied granulometry. The addition of the DS to CS or to RS allowed the increase of the mixture viscosity but decreased the mechanical strengths. Furthermore, the CS-RS combinations increased the compressive and the tensile strengths of the studied SCC. The optimized formulations of sands gave the highest performances of the SCC.